Read the Bible in a Year

Each day, we'll post passages so that you can read the Bible in one year. This is part of The Colossians 13:16 Project, sponsored by Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia. You're invited to worship with us Sundays, at 11:00 a.m. or Saturdays, at 6:30 p.m. You may also want to consider joining one our adult Bible Studies: Thursdays at 12:00 noon and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. We also have a full range of programs for children. If you want more information about the church, check out the other blogs. And please feel free to leave any comments.

The Bible in a Year is a ministry of Cove Presbyterian Church. We need your support to keep posting. If you find it helpful, you can support this blog by your contributions. They may be sent to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, WV 26062. You can also use the PayPal link below:

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Bible Readings for December 31, 2016

Today, our passages are Malachi 3:1–4:6; Revelation 22:1-21; Psalm 150:1-6; and Proverbs
31:25-31. The readings
are from The
Message by Eugene H.
Peterson. If you find these
readings helpful, please consider sending an offering directly to Cove
Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or through
PayPal by using the link below.

Malachi 3-4:6 (The
Message)

Malachi 3

The Master You've Been Looking
For

1 "Look! I'm sending my messenger on ahead to clear the way
for me. Suddenly, out of the blue, the Leader you've been looking for will enter
his Temple—yes, the Messenger of the Covenant, the one you've been waiting for.
Look! He's on his way!" A Message from the mouth of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
2-4But
who will be able to stand up to that coming? Who can survive his appearance?
He'll be like white-hot fire from the
smelter's furnace. He'll be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry. He'll
take his place as a refiner of silver, as a cleanser of dirty clothes. He'll
scrub the Levite priests clean, refine them like gold and silver, until they're
fit for God, fit to present offerings of righteousness. Then, and only then,
will Judah and Jerusalem be fit and pleasing to God, as they used to be in the
years long ago.
5"Yes,
I'm on my way to visit you with Judgment. I'll present compelling evidence
against sorcerers, adulterers, liars, those who exploit workers, those who take
advantage of widows and orphans, those who are inhospitable to the
homeless—anyone and everyone who doesn't honor me." A Message from
God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
6-7"I
am God—yes, I Am. I haven't changed. And because I haven't changed, you, the
descendants of Jacob, haven't been destroyed. You have a long history of
ignoring my commands. You haven't done a thing I've told you. Return to me so I
can return to you," says God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
"You ask, 'But how do we return?'
8-11"Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But
you rob me day after day.
"You ask, 'How have we robbed you?'
"The tithe and the offering—that's how! And
now you're under a curse —the whole lot of you—because you're robbing me. Bring
your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my
Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour
out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. For my part, I will defend you against
marauders, protect your wheat fields and vegetable gardens against plunderers."
The Message of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
12"You'll be voted 'Happiest Nation.' You'll experience
what it's like to be a country of grace." God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so.

The Difference Between Serving God and Not
Serving Him

13God says, "You have spoken hard, rude words to me.
"You ask, 'When did we ever do that?'
14-15"When you said, 'It doesn't pay to serve God. What do
we ever get out of it? When we did what he said and went around with long faces,
serious about God-of-the-Angel-Armies, what difference did it make? Those who
take life into their own hands are the lucky ones. They break all the rules and
get ahead anyway. They push God to the limit and get by with it.'"
16Then
those whose lives honored God got together and talked it over. God saw what they
were doing and listened in. A book was opened in God's presence and minutes were
taken of the meeting, with the names of the God-fearers written down, all the
names of those who honored God's name.
17-18God-of-the-Angel-Armies said, "They're mine, all mine.
They'll get special treatment when I go into action. I treat them with the same
consideration and kindness that parents give the child who honors them. Once
more you'll see the difference it makes between being a person who does the
right thing and one who doesn't, between serving God and not serving him."

Malachi 4

The Sun of Righteousness Will
Dawn

1-3 "Count on it: The day is coming, raging like a forest
fire. All the arrogant people who do evil things will be burned up like stove
wood, burned to a crisp, nothing left but scorched earth and ash— a black day.
But for you, sunrise! The sun of righteousness will dawn on those who honor my
name, healing radiating from its wings. You will be bursting with energy, like
colts frisky and frolicking. And you'll tromp on the wicked. They'll be nothing
but ashes under your feet on that Day." God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so.
4"Remember and keep the revelation I gave through my
servant Moses, the revelation I commanded at Horeb for all Israel, all the rules
and procedures for right living.
5-6"But
also look ahead: I'm sending Elijah the prophet to clear the way for the Big Day
of God—the decisive Judgment Day! He will convince parents to look after their
children and children to look up to their parents. If they refuse, I'll come and
put the land under a curse."

Revelation 22:1-21 (The
Message)

Revelation 22

1-5 Then the
Angel showed me Water-of-Life River, crystal bright. It flowed from the Throne
of God and the Lamb, right down the middle of the street. The Tree of Life was
planted on each side of the River, producing twelve kinds of fruit, a ripe fruit
each month. The leaves of the Tree are for healing the nations. Never again will
anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center. His
servants will offer God service—worshiping, they'll look on his face, their
foreheads mirroring God. Never again will there be any night. No one will need
lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light anyone
needs. And they will rule with him age after age after age.

Don't Put It Away on the Shelf

6-7The Angel
said to me, "These are dependable and accurate words, every one. The God and
Master of the spirits of the prophets sent his Angel to show his servants what
must take place, and soon. And tell them, 'Yes, I'm on my way!' Blessed be the
one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
8-9I,
John, saw all these things with my own eyes, heard them with my ears.
Immediately when I heard and saw, I fell on my face to worship at the feet of
the Angel who laid it all out before me. He objected, "No you don't! I'm a
servant just like you and your companions, the prophets, and all who keep the
words of this book. Worship God!"
10-11The Angel continued, "Don't seal the words of the
prophecy of this book; don't put it away on the shelf. Time is just about up.
Let evildoers do their worst and the dirty-minded go all out in pollution, but
let the righteous maintain a straight course and the holy continue on in
holiness."
12-13"Yes, I'm on my way! I'll be there soon! I'm bringing
my payroll with me. I'll pay all people in full for their life's work. I'm A to
Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion.
14-15"How blessed are those who wash their robes! The Tree
of Life is theirs for good, and they'll walk through the gates to the City. But
outside for good are the filthy curs: sorcerers, fornicators, murderers,
idolaters—all who love and live lies.
16"I,
Jesus, sent my Angel to testify to these things for the churches. I'm the Root
and Branch of David, the Bright Morning Star."

17"Come!" say the Spirit and the Bride. Whoever
hears, echo, "Come!" Is anyone thirsty? Come! All who will, come
and drink, Drink freely of the Water of Life!
18-19I
give fair warning to all who hear the words of the prophecy of this book: If you
add to the words of this prophecy, God will add to your life the disasters
written in this book; if you subtract from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God will subtract your part from the Tree of Life and the Holy City
that are written in this book.
20He
who testifies to all these things says it again: "I'm on my way! I'll be there
soon!"
Yes! Come, Master Jesus!
21The
grace of the Master Jesus be with all of you. Oh, Yes!

Psalm 150:1-6 (The
Message)

Psalm 150

Hallelujah! Praise God
in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies;
Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his
magnificent greatness; Praise with a blast on the trumpet,
praise by strumming soft strings; Praise him with castanets and
dance, praise him with banjo and flute; Praise him with cymbals
and a big bass drum, praise him with fiddles and mandolin. Let
every living, breathing creature praise God! Hallelujah!

Proverbs 31:25-31 (The
Message)

Hymn to a Good Wife

10-31 A good
woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.Her husband
trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it.Never
spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long.She shops
around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and
sewing.She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and
brings back exotic surprises.She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.She looks over a field and buys
it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.First thing in
the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get
started.She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it
quits for the day.She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.She's quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.She doesn't worry about her family when
it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.She
makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks.Her
husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city
fathers.She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she
knits to the dress shops.Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and
she always faces tomorrow with a smile.When she speaks she has something
worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly.She keeps an eye on
everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive.Her
children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of
praise:"Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed
them all!"Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be
admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.Give her everything she
deserves! Festoon her life with praises!

Verse of the Day

The Lord
says—who makes a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters, Don’t remember
the prior things; don’t ponder ancient history. Look! I’m doing a new thing; now
it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the desert, paths in
the wilderness. - Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

Renowned polymath and a leading author,
printer, political theorist, politician, freemason, postmaster, scientist,
inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat, Benjamin Franklin
wrote, “Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every
new year find you a better man.”